DOT expedites putting crossing gate at scene of fatalities

John Pirro

Published 9:25 pm, Thursday, February 14, 2013

Photo: Contributed Photo/Colin Lounsbur, File Photo/Colin Lounsbur

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A train and a car collided at the Long Ridge Road crossing in Redding, Conn. on Sunday Dec. 30, 2012 killing two Danbury residents. State transportation officials say they will expedite the installation of crossing gates at the intersection. less

A train and a car collided at the Long Ridge Road crossing in Redding, Conn. on Sunday Dec. 30, 2012 killing two Danbury residents. State transportation officials say they will expedite the installation of ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo/Colin Lounsbur, File Photo/Colin Lounsbur

DOT expedites putting crossing gate at scene of fatalities

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REDDING -- The state Department of Transportation will expedite the installation of gates at the Long Ridge Road railroad crossing, where two Danbury residents died after their car was hit by a Metro-North train on Dec. 30.

Instead of waiting until late next year, when work begins on a project to realign the Y-shaped intersection just east of the tracks to put in the protective gates, DOT Commissioner James Redeker said Thursday the new plan calls for them to be operational by April 30.

The crossing, the scene of two previous non-fatal accidents, is now protected only by flashing lights and bells that are intended to warn motorists when a train is approaching.

The accelerated timetable for the gate is the result of the accident that took the lives of 19-year-old Jausheema Perkins and 21-year-old Wayne Balacky. Two other passengers in the car were seriously injured when the Subaru Outback Perkins was driving was struck by a Norwalk-bound work train as it crossed the tracks.

Both Metro-North and DOT have been planning to install the gates in conjunction with the road realignment and an upgrade to the commuter rail line's signal system that were scheduled to be completed last year, but the work on both projects have encountered delays.

Although Metro-North officials said the signal upgrade is back on track, environmental concerns and right-of-way issues have pushed the start of the road realignment to the fall of 2014.

Redeker said DOT officials reviewed the project and decided the gates should be installed "without further delay." When the road realignment is completed, the gates will be moved to the spot where the new crossing will be located.

The review was precipitated by a meeting last month between DOT officials and several state lawmakers, including Senators Toni Boucher, R-Wilton; Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury; and Rep. Dan Carter, R-Bethel.

"An agreed upon resolution to put in a temporary gate will secure this crossing in the interim," Boucher said.

"We want to make sure that what happened on Dec. 30 does not happen again," McLachlan said.

But Redding resident Vito Ninivaggi, who has been waging a 2-1/2-year campaign to get the gates in place, was not as happy.

"I'm glad that it's finally happening, but it didn't have to take so long," Ninivaggi said. "I'm still going to be following this very closely."

Some preliminary work has already been done, agency spokesman Judd Everhardt said, and construction will proceed as the weather permits.

The gate installation also will not stop the victims from filing lawsuits against the railroad, DOT and the town of Redding, said Bridgeport attorney Eugene Zingaro, who represents the Balacky family.

"These protective gates were long overdue," he said. "I can't say whether it was the state's fault, Metro-North's fault or the town's fault. It's probably a combination of all, but all will be put on notice and sued in a matter of weeks.

"This was a tremendous failure on the part of agencies that are supposed to keep us safe, and it cost my client his life," Zingaro said.

Balacky's mother, Denise, "will be happy to hear the gates are going to be installed," he said, "But it will not bring back her son or erase her bitterness."